Saiunkoku Monogatari is labeled as a “Comedy, Historical, Romance, Shoujo” anime on Anidb. Normally, I’m not too big a fan of the historical and shoujo genres, but since Ayu fansubs was doing it, and I like most of the series they sub, I thought I’d give this anime a shot.
Shuurei Kou is a hot musician who comes from a respected, but poor family. Gigs are pretty hard to come by, I guess, and her dad is just a librarian. She and her friend, Seiran Shi, live a pretty comfortable life, though. At first, I thought Seiran and Shuurei were married, but I guess they’re just good friends (Seiran owes her a life debt or something).
One day, the emperor’s right hand man shows up and offers Shuurei a 500 gold job! She probably wants to spend it on a sweet mount or something. Anyway, she accepts before hearing what the job entails. Bad idea. This is where the anime turns into Indecent Proposal. She has to be the emperor’s wife. Luckily, the emperor apparently plays for the other team…
Seiran’s job is to make the emperor a better guy in half a year. I guess after that she can just go home and be normal again. Most of the first episode shows her adjusting to life in the palace and meeting hot guys. This includes some guards and a dude that wears something suspiciously close to emperor clothes…
So basically, this is a shoujo reverse harem with bishounen. Why am I watching this again?
The character designs are okay, I guess. Shuurei is as cute as they come. I just have a problem with the bishounen to cute girl ratio. It’s like, 6:1! This is more of a function of the story, and not really about the character design, though. If you like bishies, you’ll probably dig this anime.
The animation is good for the type of anime. Usually when I think of historical anime, I think boring stills and ugly characters. The style gets wacky sometimes, so that keeps the boredom levels low. It doesn’t get to the point of SD, but I guess that would be inappropriate, huh?
Speaking of historical, the OP sounds like an 80s song! I think they channeled Cyndi Lauper when they recorded this! It’s not bad, but I don’t really like it. The ED is nice. It isn’t overly awesome, but it has a unique sound, and I like it.
Download the OP: “Hajimari no kaze” by Ayaka Hirahara
Download the ED: “Saikou no Kataomoi” by Sachi Tainaka
Saiunkoku Monogatari isn’t a bad anime, per se. It just doesn’t really appeal to me personally. I can see this being a fairly popular anime for those more into the bishie shoujo genre, though. If you like that kind of stuff, I’d definitely recommend Saiunkoku Monogatari.
It’s not shoujo - it’s Josei. Being geared towards more adult women, it goes more than standard bishounen harem; it’s set for 39 episodes and heavy emphasis towards China’s political system. So what if there are pretty bishounen to service?
Don’t let it seal your opinion of the series.
So many cute guys … cannot resist. @_@
And the seiyuus - like the best of the best bishie voice actors all togehter. drools.
And the art … and the romantic potential …
I’ve seen the first episode and I really adore it - I love the songs - thanks for the mp3s! I love you forever and ever and ever!
Ok, will stop gushing like a fangirl now.
I first saw some screenshot and I like wht I saw and than I went to dl the first ep. and now watch the raws. I like both ending and opening. Thank you for the emp3.
I just saw the first episode.. it was a bit boring for for me.. though it has bright colors
I’ll check few other episodes and see
i’m up to episode 9 now and i’ve been reading the original novel up to volume 5. shuurei entering the palace is only the VERY beginning as the initial promise was to “make the emperor into shape in 6 months and then u must leave”.
the storyline really really thickens n starts to twist and i really hope that u guys can give it another go! but at the same time, it’s a shame that the eng fansubs come out slow.
I liked it… the guys are really kakkoi and it’s a.. funny anime to…
Hi !
I tried to download the songs but they don’t work.
But I love the anime though ^^
i love this movies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111 so muuuuuuuuuuuuchhhhhhhhhhh……. i have at lease about 22 espisode……..if you want to download this movies…….mail me… i’ll give you the web…ok, am so glad i found this page…. am been looking for download the first opening song…. it didn’t work… now am so happy ^_^ arigato ( thank you)
ja ne ( goodbye )
It’s a great anime. i like it alot its great to see some real facts (history details) beeing made into anime really sugoi.
also they used great seiyuu’s for this anime and great character designs, but my eyes the best is the music an anime will stand or fall with those and this anime has really good songs especially the op and end.
ja Gambatta ne!
Yoi ichinichi o Nakashima Hisoka
OMG I love this anime!! Bishies everywhere!!! hehehe… I was wondering, if anyone knows where you can download this anime or buy it, plz msg on this forum ^_^
Ummm..the links don’t work… ;_; *dies b/c she can’t dwnld the songs x.x*
Ben cette petite série est ma foi fort agréable même s’il est vrai qu’il y a beaucoup plus d’hommes que de femmes et ainsi le ration 1-1 n’est pas particulièrement respecté. Néanmoins le générique de début “hajimari no kaze” est vraiment réussi ils nous plonge dans une sorte d’univers moyen ageux qui colle tout à fait à la série. Sinon, le personnage principal shuurei est une femme à la fois volontaire et ayant bon fond. Ainsi cette petite série de 39 épisodes promet beaucoup et à la moitié la tendance est conservée sachant qu’elle peut quand même compter sur plusieurs alliés dans ses pérégrinations que ce soit le roi et ses amis.
I love this anime very much too.. but i can only download till epi 19 T_T i can’t wait for the rest!!!! >_
i absolutely luv dis new anime……drool….
all da guys in there are so hot especially ryuuki….lol
ne waiz, i’ve watched up 2 episode 25…..if anyone else in interested, u can watch in on http://www.youtube.com…..da problem is dat da subtitles r in chinese…..so bad luck 4 those who cant watch it…
ne waiz, does n e one noe where 2 download da opening and ending songs 2 dis anime…thanx
I was reading your review thing and in one part you wrote Seiran instead of Shuurei. Just thought maybe you should know.
I appreciate you uploading the opening and ending of this anime because I could not find it before. I am addicted to the opening. Other than that I have been watching this series and I really enjoy it.
Who is ur fave character?
my fave is Kouyuu or Shuuei! HOTTIES♥
Erm, I’m having some sort of trouble here. I can’t open the OP theme with Windows Media Player && actually, I wanted it to be on the PC itself so I could transfer over to my phone.
Seiran x Shuurei
Hi..!! I’m new here but..Definitively the best couple is Seiran x Shuurei!! because they’re pretty.. and I don’t Know why Kouyuu and Shuurei Look ugly Together.. well Whatever This Manga is very Good! and this done very well**The only thing is that it is just a little bit rare =S..!! ¬¬
i’m not satisfied..hiks..honestly,i hope that shuurei and ryuuki fall in love one and another, then became together happily ever after ( married may be ) muahaha..but i love this anime..all the char are very cute..
Hi there,
Once, someone said to me that Fushigi Yuugi resembled a particular Anime… i asked him/ her for the name… but, that “someone” couldn’t reply me back… .
I got my answer from Animax, herself. Saiunkoku Monogatari , in my opinion… as far as my searching over the net, goes, is a different Anime, from Fushigi Yuugi… so what, that Midorikawa Hikaru (Tamahome), Koyasu Takehito (Hotohori) and Tomokazu Seki (Tasuki)lent their voices in Fushigi Yuugi and Saiunkoku Monogatari! Stories are totally unrelated!
Okay, my topic’s changing… what i wanted to say is- A Cool Anime!
Sorry!
Tomokazu Seki> Chichri
Nobutoshi Hayashi> Tasuki
SORRY, AGAIN!
Hey Sesshoumaru,
Will you help me, please, please, to download the Saiunkoku Monogatari from you?
Thx 4 the songs!!!
and i love this anime too!!!
and i like the character too!
they are soo nice!!
hi to all you!!
you all can download by cliking the right key on your mouse and than download with DAP!! thats all
(This is how i download)
I am no sure you all can anot!!
It was so cute when Shuurei meet Ryuuki and she’s completely dont know that she’s meeting with the emperor and he’s stupid ever!
And thats way the fun starts here!
It was so romantic and so cute like Ranma meeting Akane when they are enganged!
this really is a great anime!!! and i’m too glad that i can download the op song at last!! thank you very much!!!!!